Watkins' absence at Illinois creates doubt about his future

John Supinie

Friday

Aug 24, 2007 at 12:01 AMAug 24, 2007 at 1:29 PM

Freshman guard sits at home in California as classes, practice start

Illinois freshman basketball players Quinton Watkins and Mike Davis have one thing in common. They both eagerly await a decision from the NCAA initial eligibility clearinghouse, which rules on the academic standing of incoming freshmen.

But there's apparently little in common between the two concerning the likelihood of hearing a positive result from the NCAA.

Davis, who committed to Illinois in mid-August and didn't get paperwork to the NCAA until late this month, began classes and practiced with the Illini on Wednesday and Thursday leading up to the team's five-game exhibition tour in Canada over Labor Day weekend. Thus, Davis' academic clock began with the NCAA -- he has five years to play four seasons -- after Illinois felt confident Davis would receive academic clearance.

Meanwhile, Watkins remained at his home in California after failing to pass the NCAA clearinghouse. By not starting the fall semester, he hasn't started his NCAA clock. But his absence showed Illinois' apprehension over Watkins' ability to produce more documentation on his high school curriculum and pass NCAA academic requirements this fall.

"With anyone, you have to make a decision,'' Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. "Do you really think he can get cleared? If you think he can get cleared, then he comes here and starts school.

"There are kids around the country who haven't been cleared, but they're in school. If there are really questions about some things, that's the reason why you don't have them come, stay in a dorm and start class.''

In an example such as Watkins' case, "we didn't want to put him in a bind if we weren't sure that he had a great chance of qualifying (academically) and then losing a year,'' Weber said.

If Watkins doesn't arrive by late next week, he may not be able to start the semester. Weber thought the NCAA doesn't allow a player to miss more than the first 10 days of school, although some schools may not be so lenient.

The clearinghouse makes a thorough check of a player's high school transcript and classroom work to assure academic requirements were met for incoming freshmen. It's likely that Watkins' case is being reviewed further because of a problem with a grade or a class certified as a core curriculum course.

Watkins averaged 19.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists last season at Dominguez High School in Compton, Calif. He would have been a likely candidate to fill the shooting guard spot left vacant when the university announced Wednesday that junior Jamar Smith would redshirt the season after a felony DUI conviction in May.

Watkins could take one class to improve his high school academic standing, Weber said. If Watkins gains his eligibility before the start of the spring semester, he could enroll in a situation close to the "gray shirt'' used in football where a player begins school in January but doesn't start his eligibility until the following fall semester.

If Watkins doesn't pass the NCAA clearinghouse and doesn't start school, his letter of intent is voided.

Meanwhile, Illinois worked the second of eight practices before the five-game tour. Junior-college transfer Rodney Alexander sprained his foot in a pick-up game Tuesday and likely won't practice until the weekend.

Fifth-year senior Brian Randle is "as healthy as I've been in the last year and half'' after recovering from a second surgery to repair his groin and abdomen. Sophomore Brian Carlwell appeared back at full speed after a head injury suffered in a crash that led to charges against Smith.

Weber wasn't ready to decide whether he would play freshmen forwards Bill Cole and Mike Tisdale, a pair of redshirt possibilities. Anybody who plays in the exhibition tour wouldn't be allowed to redshirt, according to NCAA rules.

Davis must first be cleared academically by the NCAA before he can play in Canada. He's another candidate for a redshirt this season.

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com.

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